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Friday, August 1, 2008
National Material
Greater Louisville, KY
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Javanon ‘92 mingled with the best teams in the country and proved it belonged among them.
The Louisville boys’ journey may not have gotten off to the greatest of starts at the US Youth Soccer National Championships in Little Rock, Arkansas (July 22-27). They began with two consecutive losses, but ended with a victory, and with it the realization that they can compete with youth soccer’s elite in the future.
The tournament at Burns Park Soccer Complex saw 56 boys’ and girls’ clubs from U14 through U19 battle to become best in the nation. They had risen above 10,000 teams and over 185,000 players from 55 state associations.
It was the fourth time that Javanon as a club was represented at the national championships, having won it twice—in 1997 (U16 boys) and 2006 (U19 boys). It was also a national semi-finalist at U16 in 2003.
For Javanon’s current crop of regional champions, the quest for the club’s third national title began at the Kentucky State Cup at the end of May, where it won all five of its games, racking up 29 goals and producing four shut outs.
It then went to the Midwest Regional Championships at Rockford, Illinois, in June, where it scored 17 goals and beat powerhouse Eclipse Select (IL) in the final to earn a place at the national championships.
There were six teams at the finals in the U16 category. Four were winners of their regions. Other than Javanon, they included Real So Cal Blues (CA), Lower Merion Velez (PA) and Triangle United (NC). The remaining two—Dallas Texans (TX) and YMS Explosion (PA)—were the top performers in US Youth Soccer National League. Divided into two pools, each team would play three games, with the two pool winners facing off in the final.
Javanon got off to a dream start. In the first game against Real So Cal of California, goals from Tyler Riggs in the 23rd minute with a blistering shot from 25 yards out, and a follow up goal by Jack Goblirsch in the 35th minute put the Louisville side 2-0 to the good at the break.
Then the wheels came off the cart. Real So Cal produced an unstoppable second half rally as Javanon struggled collectively to deal with the heat. Goals in the 43rd and 54th minutes saw the Californians level matters and it used its new found energy and skill to finish off the job with goals in the 71st and 79th minutes.
Somewhat deflated, Javanon put up a brave showing against YMS Explosion of eastern Pennsylvania—who also lost its first game—the following morning. A heartbreaker of an own goal in the 18th minute put YMS ahead and it held on for a 1-0 victory, with Javanon failing to capitalize on its scoring opportunities.
Javanon coach Tim Chastonay told VYPE, "The boys were definitely down after losing the 2-0 lead [against Real So Cal] and ultimately losing the game, but came back strong the next day [against YMS]. They played a more complete game on the second day but just could not find the net."
Knowing that it would not be progressing to final, the boys were determined not to go back to Louisville without a win, and ensured that that would not be the case with a battling 2-1 victory against Lower Marion Velez, also from eastern Pennsylvania. It didn't start all that well for Javanon, going behind after only two minutes, but goals from Will Vitalis in the 26th minute and Brycen Howard in the 71st ensured that the team returned home with three points from three games.
"I think they definitely learned a bit individually what they need to work on and then what we needed to do better as a team," says Chastonay. "They left in high spirits after the third game and looked as if they really wanted to get back to this position."
Dallas Texans, a team Javanon didn't take on in pool play, went on to win the tournament, beating Real So Cal 2-0 in the final.
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